The building of the Touro Synagogue between 1759 and 1763- in a soon
to be independent United States of America - remains a bright chapter
in a dark saga of religious persecution. The Touro Synagogue is a living
symbol of America's refusal to travel the road of bigotry and persecution.

On March 5, 1946, President Harry Truman designated Touro Synagogue as
a National Historic Site, a symbol of religious liberty.

On December 2, 1763, Isaac Tourso, a Dutch Jew, a young cantor- one
who sings the music connected to the religious service and often leads
the congregation in prayer, was appointed rabbi of the congregation,
a post to hold for twenty years until his death on December 3, 1783.
Isaac Tourso,.

Abraham Touro, Isaac's son died in 1822. He left money at his death
for the restoration and preservation of the synagogue, Touro Jewish Synagogue
Fund.

Judah Touro, Isaac's son who ded in 1854 established a fund to care
for Newport's Jewish cemetery. He purchase some land nearby to be called
Touro Park.

Interior of of Touro Synagogue

Entrance to Underground Passage

A trapdoor and ladder led to a room hidden below the "bimah".
There was no tunnel or door leading from any part of it to somewhere else.

According to Sephardic tradition, Spanish and Portuguese Jews kept such
secret rooms in their synagogues to hide from the agents of the Inquisition.